An interview with Jean-Louis COPPET, the man in charge of the IHGF Worlds in Bressuire:
"Loads of memories cross the mind two months later.
And it is not an easy job to sort things out. What with the time-consuming and busy preparation work, the events and performances in the world competition and the festival , the intense emotions at the dawn of the week-end and the mustering of the 240 volunteers for the week-end.
Thanks and Congratulations
It was after reading the numerous words of thanks and congratulations to our committee,... [Lire la suite]

In Bressuire just like everywhere in the World, Highland Games are fun under the sun.
But they are not necessarily a pain under the rain.
That was the case in Bressuire for the IHGF WorldsEverybody was great on Saturday when the sun was shining
But athletes, spectators and volunteers were even greater on Sunday in spite of the apocalyptic weather.
And there were no "Flowers of Scotland" for the pipers: just "Showers of Scotland" in Bressuire-the-Scot
But even if it was raining cats and dogs, they were all hammers and tongs
... [Lire la suite]

Just look at that!
Scottish pipers are listening to the Bressuire Mayor with a painting of the old castle in the background...
Definitely, we are in Bressuire-the-Scot
You want more?
Just have a look at the painting offered to Jean-Michel BERNIER by Francis BREBNER, the IHGF president: the French flag, the Scottisk flag, a caber-tosser and the castle in the background;
Here we are in Bressuire-the-Scot again...
For the IHGF Worlds, it was the same all over the place in Bressuire: pipers and Highland Games, just like in... [Lire la suite]

"May the fourth be with you!"
Today's special dedication from the Bressuire speaker-blogger is for our American Heavies on Independance Day
Dan McKIM and Matt VINCENT gave us a fantastic competition in the old Bressuire castle...
And the 10.000 spectators who had come to encourage them for the IHGF World Championship did enjoy that.Until the last moment, until the last competition, nobody could guess who would become World Champion.
And it was an exceptionnal priviledge for the speaker-blogger to comment such a competition and... [Lire la suite]

In Bressuire, you can throw a 25,3 k weight over the bar and break a new record at 5.10m.But you can also throw the Coreff keg over the bar and send it just a little bit higher: 5,11 meters.This is what Dan McKIM did in Bressuire on Saturday and that's why he was so pleased in front of the scoreboard. (photo Alain CADU)
And at that time, he didn't know yet that he would become the new 2015 world champion.
Throwing the keg higher and higher
Throwing the 24,3 kg (53,6Ib) beer keg is just like throwing the weight over bar.
It's the... [Lire la suite]

The spectators had to wait until the last event, the weight over bar, to know the name of the 2015 IHGF World Champion.
Dan Mac KIM threw it over a 5.10m bar, a new Bressuire record, but Matt VINCENT failed three times.
So, after two titles in 2011 and 2013, Dan is an IHGF World champion again.
Throwing in the rain
The conditions had been fantastic on Saturday under the sun.
But it rained all the time on Sunday afternoon and it was really difficult to throw inside the fantastic Bressuire castle.
The results:
1- Dan McKIM, 22... [Lire la suite]

What a fantastic day in Bressuire for the Highland Games World Championship.
After the first post yesterday after 4 events: 1-VINCENT, 2-Mc KIM 3- RIDER just have a look at these photos by Jean-Patrick JOLLY, Loulou FRADIN and Clotilde CADU
THE OPENING CEREMONY:
THE FIRST DAY'S WINNERS:
Two victories for Scott RIDER: caber-tossing and open stone
One victory for Dan McKIM : heavy weight 13,41m 43'11,9
One victory for Craig SINCLAIR, Scotland: light hammer 43,61m 143'0,9", a new Bressuire record and a... [Lire la suite]

Without winning a single event, the American Matt VINCENT is leading the IHGF Worlds in Bressuire.
He has got his 12 points after finishing second at the open stone and at the heavy weight. He finished third at the hammer and fifth at the caber
Dan Mac KIM is second with 14 points after the first day of competition and Scott RIDER is third with 15 points.
After 4 events:
1- Matt VINCENT, USA 12 points
2- Dan Mac KIM, USA 14 points
3- Scott RIDER, England, 15 points
4- Lucasz WENTA, Poland, 19 points
5- Matt DOHERTY, Canada 19... [Lire la suite]